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A great piece written by a friend of mine and I would be interested to see what peoples opinions are because I agree with him.
It has been several months since I last opened my heart to you fine folk. The world has changed. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling. Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!
Yes it’s true, this man has no dick!
Ghostbusters references aside, last season for Spurs was always going to be a bit of a weird one. It was a case of AVB making do with what was at his disposal, and as such it got a bit messy. Sandro’s injury was unquestionably a defining moment in our season and our football suffered from that point on. Weaknesses in the squad were fairly obvious but there was little that could be done. From Christmas onwards, a certain Welshman took it upon himself to win matches. Whether it was through boredom or just showing off, he was pinging in shots from all over the place. Some argue that it was yet another capitulation, others claim that we were overachieving anyway. Either way, the top 4 was certainly not something that should have been expected.
I wouldn’t say that I lost interest last season, rather there was no real need for analysis. Especially the high-level, expert analysis that I offer. Our shortcomings were obvious, as was the fact that this was the start of a huge transition. There was no point reading too much into it as it was going to be changed and fuck me was it changed.
This was a summer like no other for Spurs fans, certainly those who have been fans for the past 20 or so years. For a long time we’ve been used to a fair amount of transfer activity, but all of it based on turning a profit or finding a bargain. There has been a lot of frustration aimed at Levy and ENIC for not taking more chances earlier, but this summer would suggest that it was always part of a masterplan. Levy didn’t trust ‘Arry. The tax man didn’t trust ‘Arry. Arguably Levy didn’t initially trust AVB either, so was a bit more cagey about the signings. This summer, however, was pretty substantial proof that both Levy and ENIC believe AVB is the man to handle our transition into “the big time”. You know, THE BIG TIME! No? Me neither.
Anyway, the spending this summer was relentless. Our transfer record was broken 3 times in one window and we signed some genuine talent. The squad was filled up with options that meant we could look beyond just the starting 11. It would also mean that we would no longer be crippled by one or two injuries in certain places. That isn’t to suggest that we still can’t be hobbled by injuries in the right places, just the chances of it affecting our game plan were reduced considerably.
It has been a strange start to the season as far as performances go. I think based on the signings that everyone expected us to come flying out of the blocks, playing magnificent football that both impressed and aroused fans all over the world. That was always going to be wishful thinking and I’m rather stunned that so many fans are surprised at the slow start. I’m even more surprised at the level of negativity in relation to this slow start. I’ll try to put things in perspective.
Last summer we signed Sigurdsson, Vertonghen, Dembele, Dempsey and Lloris (with Holtby joining in January). This summer we have signed Lamela, Eriksen, Chiriches, Capoue, Soldado, Chadli and Paulinho. Now add our two returning loan youngsters, Rose and Townsend, who are playing their first full season for us. It’s also worth mentioning that we also have Kaboul and Sandro coming back from long term injuries. Those injuries aside, and Deuce going back to the motherland, that is 14 new first team players being introduced in the space of just over a year. Ok so let’s put that figure to one side for a moment and continue on our quest for truth.
AVB plays a very different system to ‘Arry. This system was not fully implementable last season due to the lack of players who would fit this system. This meant in theory that we were playing with some sort of hybrid system to attempt to make the best out of the players that he had at his disposal. This season, however, the players have been signed to fit into the system that AVB ultimately wants to play.
Still awake? Ok. Hang in there.
So, last season we were not fully playing the system AVB wanted due to the players available. This combined with the 6 new players put into that temporary system (as well as the old players obviously). Cool? Cool. So as well as now adapting that system for the 5 remaining players of that 6 this season, it is also being beaten into the new 7 players, the 2 new returning youngsters, the 2 players returning from long term injuries, and the old players. Additionally there is the obvious bedding in period required for most foreign players who move to the PL, which is generally more difficult for younger players of which we have signed several.
So in summary…
14 new players + 2 long term injury returnees + new system = A rather valid reason for patience
I’ve been quite ashamed by some of the comments and attitudes of Spurs fans over the last few weeks who appear to be angrily announcing that they’re not impressed or entertained enough. Perhaps we should wear sparkly outfits and tame lions in the 6 yard box when the ball is out of play, or get Miley Cyrus to dry-hump AVB on the touchline while licking Steffen’s elbow. Personally I think Hugo would look rather dashing in a ringmaster outfit, top hat and all. I also hear that the effects of licking Steffen’s elbow are similar to a shot of liquid LSD straight to the anus.
I have no issue at all with people being bored watching some of the games we’ve played in, I have been too. What I do have an issue with is people assuming that we have no intention of improving the quality of the football and that we’re actively trying to play in a system that goes against everything we stand for. Is it truly that difficult to believe that what we’re witnessing now is a natural by-product of the changes that we’re going through, and a necessary part of reaching our goal?
I suppose the real question is this. Do we want to be entertained or successful? Over the past few years our expectation of success has increased dramatically with no thought to what is actually required to achieve it. Not only achieve it, but maintain it. It’s almost as though we were dreaming that our exciting style of play would be sufficient to reach the upper echelons and stay there. I’m sorry to break it to you, chaps, but it isn’t. It might well have been in the good ol’ days, when the philosophy was forged in the fires of Mount Doom, and players weren’t the machines that they are today. However if we genuinely want to compete at the top, we will need to make some compromises. This doesn’t mean binning our identity and our way of playing football, but I do think that it needs to be adjusted to fit the game as it is today. This will mean having to do the ugly stuff at times. I personally believe that we can be both entertaining and successful, but it will take time.
I remember so many Spurs fans laughing at Chelsea because AVB was tasked with an overhaul of their squad and the style of play and was dumped after only a few months for trying to do exactly that. Oh how we laughed that they did not have the patience to see it through. I specifically remember a few conversations with Spurs and Chelsea fans that went along the lines of “AVB was given 3 years to complete this overhaul project, and you binned him after 6 months”. Guess what, AVB also signed a 3 year deal with us yet I’m seeing the exact same behavior with Spurs fans. Yes AVB has been with us longer now than he was with Chelsea, but it is this season that he truly has what he wants at his disposal and can really start to do what he wants. Alright it might not be exactly what he wants, but it’s as close as we’re going to get.
We waited what? 18/19 years of PL football to get into the CL for the first time? And for many of those years the football was generally shit. I’m pretty sure that we can wait 1 more season before making assumptions and/or judgements about the current team and management. Give AVB, the system and the new players the chance to get to grips with what is being asked of them without the constant moans and groans that they are currently enduring. We’re better than that. If I’m wrong at the end of the season, so be it, but we can at least give the team our full backing until that point. That is the only thing we, as fans, can control and we’re failing miserably at it.
"He is probably the best I have worked with up to now. You can talk about the lack of goals but, defensively, we have been keeping clean sheets and we are fourth in the table. So you cannot really argue with what he is doing. Maybe we could have one or two more goals but I am sure once we have played a few more games and once all the players gel, because it is quite a new team, there will be a big hammering coming up for someone soon," said Kyle Naughton.
We have to show some faith in our managers and keep Poch for at least medium term 4-5 years
We have to show some faith in our managers and keep Poch for at least medium term 4-5 years
The man in the Raincoat would disagree.Most decorated manager under ENIC to date would be playing Champions League football next season while we scrape an away draw against Pig Farmer FC. How boring indeed.
Gooner cunts
I have faith and believe in Poch:Faith = Belief without evidence.
Goon cunt - jog the fuck onFaith = Belief without evidence.
gooner trollFor what its worth , i have seen about 10 Zenit games this season and in those games they did play an ultra negative boring kind of football during 7 of those games.
#foundoutgooner troll